Automatic safety-guard for embossing-presses



C. SEYERLE.

/ Autom/mc SAFETY GUARD Foa Msossme Pmasses.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 3, I9I9. I

Patented Nov. 2, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

C. SEYERLE.

AUTOMATIC SAFETY GUARD FOR EMBOSSING PRESSES.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 3. I9l9.

Patented NOV 2,1920

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2,

ff iig ulmmummn f G Rom-nega- Cit UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE..

CHRISTIAN SEYERLE, 0F GGWANDA, NEW YORK.

Application inea Marca s,

To all whom t may concern.'

.lle it known that l, CHRISTIAN Snrnnnn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Gowanda, in the county of Cattaraugus, State of New York, have invented certain new and useful improvements in automatic SatetvGuards for Embossing-Presses; and l do hereby declare the following to be a` full, clear, and exact description of the in vcntion, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to malte and use the same.

This invention has reference to the art of printingr and more particularly to an improved automatic safety guard for embossing` presses or the like, to obviate the possibility of injury to the operator or plate printer by having the hands caught between the plates or platens oi. the machine, during the stamping or embossing operation.

A further object of the invention is comprehended in the provision of a guard device for presses of the class described and more particularly an embossing and stamping' press constituting an apparatus for stamping and embossing,- paper, card board, book covers, letters and the like, of the type having a stationary upper platen and a movable lower platen adapted to be raised forcibly in contact with the upper platen during the embossing,f operation, while the automatic safety guard embodies a novel arrangement of pendant guard elements carried by arms supported by the press frame and attached to the lower or movable platen, so as to move downwardly, the Iguard elements, over the area between the platens and beneath the upper platen, so as to warn the operator by contact with his hands wherebyto prevent the hands from beingcaught between the Vplatens, before the latter come together Alarv enough to harm them. and which when the machine is open for inserting the material, the ouard is entirely out of the way.

`With the above objects and others in view,` as will appear, as the specification proceeds, the invention comprises novel combinations and arrangements oi parts as will be hereinafter more particularly set forth in detail and claimed.

Reference is had to the drawings forming a part of the applicatiomwherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts throughout the several views and wherein Figure 1 is a Jfront elevation of an eina Speccation of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 2, 1920.

1919. Serial No. 280,341.

bossing press, equipped with my improved automatic safety guard.

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof, with the plates or platens spaced apart in inoperative position, with the guard out of the way.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation showing the parts in operative position.

Fig. is a horizontal sectional view above the guard device.

ig. 5 is a detail vertical sectional view taken on the line 5 5 or" Fig. 1 and showing the mounting of the guard members proper, and

Fig. G is a detail view showing the manner of attaching the device to the supporting trame of the embossing press.

By way of illustrating the application and use oi' the invention, in order that a full and clear understanding thereof may be had, l have shown in the drawings, an embossing press generally designated by the letter P. rllhis press is the usual type of apparatus for stampimgl and embossing paper, card board, bool; covers, letters and the like, or may be or" any particular type to which the invention is applicable with general use of the principles involved as will be hereinafter more particularly pointed out, so ar as the same, is within the scope or" the device as claimed. l also desire to have it understood that the reverse arrangement of that to be hereinafter set forth, may be employed with equal facility and l desire to reserve the right to such modilications as will be understood by those acquainted with the art.

In the form illustrated, as an embodiment of the principles oi the invention. the

embossing press is shown provided with a y base 10 upon which are arranged side or end plates l1 adapted to form a support for the lower movable platen 12, the bed plate 13 oi which is designed to engage the upper edges of the supports, when the former is in its inoperative or lowermost position. Arranged at the corners of the base 10, are a series of spaced parallel corner posts or uprights 14.- which carry upon the upper ends thereof, theupper stationary bed plate 15 having the platen 16 on the bottom face thereof and being hung or suspended from' a top plate 17 engaged upon the corner posts or uprights 14 as shown. The lower or movable bed plate and platen are designed to be reciprocated vertically within the Jframe of the machine. for the purpose of bringing the platens together, during the embossing operation, for stamping or'embossing, as is common in the art of plate printing.

ln the construction of the automatic safety guard, there is applied to opposed pairs of side posts or uprights, horizontal supporting strips 18 forming end members for the frame, and positioned parallel to the bed plates and platens and slightly above the lower face of the upper or stationary platen. ln order to mount the strips in position, there are provided at the ends thereof, clamps 19 comprising hinged jaws designed toV coperate with the outwardly bowed end portions of the strips, to envelop the posts or uprights le' and to fold against the inner races of the strips adjacent to the extremities thereof, for securely holding the strips in lived relation to the posts and thus the frame of the machine, through the medium ot clamping ine-anser bolts .20 passed through co-acting or registering apertures in the adjacent portions of the strips and the hinged jaws ot the clamps. ln this manner, the strips are brought into binding relation to the post, and they can be readily applied or removed, as will be found desirable or necessary, besides permitting the application of? the device to embossing pressesA of general construction. lt should also be noted that the extremities ot the strips are turned and biturcatcd to accommodate an intermediate portion formed by reducing the endV of .the adjacent clamping aw which is hinged thereto through the medium of the hinge pin or the pintle 2l, thus providing a binding connection, which is strong and durable. j

`lrivotally mounted upon the outwardly projecting bolts 20 and retained thereon by nuts 22, at each side otthe machine, there is a pair of levers 23, the pivots thereof-being the clamping bolts 20 positioned adjacent to the posts, so that the levers are pivoted intermediately ot theirends in spaced parallel relation to the strips 18, and with their outer ends projecting forwardly and rearwardly of the machine for a purpose which will presently appear.

The inner ends are disposed in crossed overlapping relation, .and have formed therein, longitudinal slots 2l-. Fixed to each endy ot the lower or movable bed plate, is a bracket 25, each having a horizontalV lower portion 26 receiving the fastening means 27, by which the brackets are rigidly attached in an upwardly projecting or vertical position, to extend above the lower, platen. rllhe upper ends of the brackets are offset outwardly, being bent or extended outwardly at right angles'from the operative face of the lower platen and then upwardly at right angles to said outwardly extending portions, in spaced parallel relation outwardly of the strips or supporting members carried by the Upon the outer or 'ree extremities oiz the l levers, are arranged, the guards, which comprise upper bars or rods 30 fixed to the free extremities of the levers and preterably provided with threaded extremities engaged in cooperating apertures in opposed pairs of levers at the front and back of the machine,.with clamping nuts B1 engaged on said extremities at either side of the levers, thereby holding the parts in iiXed relation with respect to the machine and with the `levers in maintained parallel relation. Hung or suspended from the upper 'bars or rods 30 are' loweribars or rods 32 which are disposed substantially in parallel relation to the upper rods and which are allowed compensatory movement relative to the upper guard rods, to prevent injury to the operatorA in serving the function of the device, as will be more fully brought out. For this purpose, the lower guard rods are suspended at their ends by means of hangers 33, the same having slotted upper ends receiving or engaging movably the upper guard rod` inwardly of the clamping means at the extremities thereof, through the medium of slots Se, while the lower'ends of the hangers are apertured to receive the eX- tremities ot Vthe lower guard rods which are held in lined relation thereto, as by upsetting orriveting the ends 'of the lower guard rods in the manner shown in the drawings.

ln the use and operation of the device, the lower bed plate and platen are resting upon the supports 1l, being moved downwardly by their weight or gravity, in conjunction with any suitable means for reciprocating the same as is 'common inthe class of embossing presses of this or any other desired type, to which the invention may be applied. ln this connection, attention is called to theV fact that the machine embodies upper and lower bed plates vand platens, one of which is movable Vtoward and from the other but it is to beV understood that while lhave illustrated the lower platen and bed plate as movable, this construction may be'reversed or both may be made movable and the guard device applied thereto with equal facility. ,Howeven in theconstruction shown, when the lowermovable bed plateV and platen are in the lowermost position, inoperative and separated from the upper bed plate and platen, the brackets will move downwardly therewith, and by reason of the engagement of the studs of the brackets in the slotted inner extremities of the levers, the latter will be drawn downwardly. This will be permitted by the arrangement of the slots in the levers as previously described, and the outer or free extremities of the levers will be swung upwardly, thereby holding the guards proper in raised position above the operative faces of the platens. However, when the machine is operated and the platens are brought together, the lower bed plate and platen will be moved upwardly, thus raising the brackets carried thereby and the studs, to swing the inner ends of the levers upwardly, thereby moving the outer extremities of the levers downwardly and together therewith, the guard members arranged across the front and back portions of the machine. Normally, the lower guard rods are positioned above the operative face of the upper platen, which is stationary, thereby being entirely out of the way to permit the insertion of the material to be acted upon. However, when the embossing operation is taking place, the guard will be arranged to overlie the coacting faces and as said movable plate is moving toward the stationary bed plate, the guard members will move downwardly, so as to contact with the operators hands should they be in the way, thereby serving as a warning, before the plates come together far enough to harm them. There would be sufficient weight to the guard proper, to move the hands out of the way if necessary, though usually they would be drawn out of the way quickly and without probability of injury by coming between the coacting platens. Injury, however, to the operators hands would be prevented by the guards proper, by reason of the slots arranged in the hangers, which permit the lower guard rods to move upwardly for this purpose. In this way, positive downward pressure by the guard member, upon the hands, would be prevented. It is also to be understood that while I have illustrated the guard members arranged at opposite sides of the front and back portions of the machine, one may be omitted or any number employed with equal. facility and within the scope of the principles of invention involved. Furthermore, the device may be applied to one or both sides and if applied to both sides, can be taken apart quickly and with facility to operate on one side only if occasion should arise.

l. In an automatic safety device for presses having a member movable into cooperative relation to another, guards disposed beyond the ends of said members,

levers mounted between their ends on fixed pivots and connected at their outer ends with said guards, and pivotal connections between their inner Vends and the movable member whereby the guards are moved to intercept the spaces between said members before the latter are brought together.

2. In an automatic safety guard for embossing presses or the like having members, at least one of which is movable, supports adapted to be mounted on opposite sides of the frame of said press, levers intermediately pivoted on the supports and having their outer ends proiecting beyond said members and their inner ends pivotally connected with the movable member, and guards carried by said outer ends and extending along both ends of said members.

3. In an automatic safety guard for einbossing presses or the like, having coperating members, at least one of which is movable, supporting means engageable with the frame of the press at either side, levers pivotally supported thereby intermediately of their ends and having their outwardly projecting ends extending beyond said members, a guard member carried by said ends and means of connection between the inner ends of the levers and the movable member.

4:. In an automatic safety guard for embossing presses or the like, having coperating members, at least one of which is movable, supporting means engageable with the frame of the press at either side, levers pivotally supported thereby intermediately of their ends and having their', outwardly projecting ends extending beyond said members, a guard member carried by said ends, said guard member being movablv suspended for upward movement independently of the levers and disposed normally out of the area between the co-acting faces of the members and adapted to move over and intercept the space between the coacting members when the latter are operated.

5. An automatic safety guard for embossing presses or the like, having a frame structure, a movable platen and a stationary platen coperating therewith; of strips having clamping means engageable with the frame structure at either side, a series of levers pivoted upon said strips and having compensating connection with the movable platen, and a guard member carried by the levers and normally held out of the path of the space between the co-acting faces of the platens and adapted to intercept the spaces between the same before said faces are brought together and to overlie such space when the platens are in operative position.V

6. An automatic safety guard for embossing presses or the like, having a frame structure, a movable platen and a stationary platen coperating therewith, strips having clamping means engageable With the frame strljicture at either side, brackets carried by th {moya-ble platen and havingoutwardly olii et portions and similarly projectingstnds, opposed pairs of levers pivoted to said strips at spaced points and having slotted inner ends engageable with the studs7 rods coimeetingthe free extremities of the levers which have their faces opposing each other, hangers having` slots engageable with said rods, and guard rods connecting the lower ends of the hanger and for the purposes set forth.

7. The combination with an embossing` press having top and bottom plates and corner posts Connecting the same; a stationary upper bed plate and platen Carried by the top plate, a lower movable bed plate and platen, means to support the latter in n lowermost position, said movable platen being designed to be reciprocated vertically; of strips having hinged end portions engageable with `the posts, connecting means ed to said clamping means outwardly of the strips and posts7 connecting means between the movable platen through the medium of its bed plate to Cause movement of the latter when the bed plate is reeiprocated to bring the platen thereof into Contact with the stationary platen for operation upon the Work, connecting means Jfor the levers holding the saine in spaced relation rigidly, and pendant pivotal guard members carried by said connecting means for movement in an opposite direction from lthe movable bed plate and platen. Y

ln testimony whereof, l alliX my signature, in the presence of tivo Witnesses.

FLOYD L. STAGE, C, F. KEPPEL. 

